Wealden

Wealden's population grew between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in marriage, religion and ethnicity.

The population reached nearly 150,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Wealden increased by 6.4%, from just over 140,000 to 149,000.

The addition of just under 8,900 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Wealden was home to, on average, 1.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Wealden

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Wealden increased by three years, from 43 to 46 years.

This agricultural area had a higher average age than the South East and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 6,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 4,000.

About 14% of people in Wealden are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Wealden by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Wealden

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Wealden at a faster rate than across the South East.

In Wealden, the proportion of single people increased from 21% in 2001 to 25% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 29% to 32%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 29% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in Wealden fell from 59% to 55%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.8% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More homes with adult children living with their parents

Wealden saw the South East's second-largest rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

In 2011, just over 1 in 11 (9.3%) households in Wealden had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 8.2% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 28% to 27%.

Across the region, only Lewes saw a greater rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents (from 7.8% to 9.2%).

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Wealden

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 26% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 26% in 2001

The number of people in Wealden that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 19,000 in 2001 to about 39,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 14% to 26% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Wealden that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 110,000 in 2001 to just over 95,000 in 2011 (from 77% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 10,000 to just under 12,000 (from 7.4% to 7.9%).

Just over 1,100 people (0.7%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from just over 980 in 2001 (0.8%).

The population without a religion in Wealden increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Wealden by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Wealden

The percentage of Wealden residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 7.7% to 8.0% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 2.5%, while the percentage of Wealden residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Wealden

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 97% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 97% in 2001

The number of people in Wealden from the White ethnic groups increased from about 140,000 in 2001 to just under 150,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 97%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Wealden from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 930 in 2001 to about 1,700 in 2011 (from 0.7% to 1.2%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 920 to about 1,400 (from 0.7% to 1.0%).

About 340 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 250 in 2001 (0.2%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Wealden remained close to 97%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Wealden by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Wealden, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Wealden, the proportion of private renting increased from 6.6% in 2001 to 11% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Wealden remained close to 7.7%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 83% to 79%.

Private renting in Wealden increased by 4.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Wealden, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Wealden working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 17% to 13% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.5% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Wealden decreased by 3.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Wealden, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Wealden residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.2% to 4.5% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71% in 2001. The percentage of Wealden residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Wealden decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Wealden, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Wealden, which comprised a single parent, increased from 6.5% to 8.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (38%) households had a married couple, compared with 41% in 2001. The percentage of households in Wealden, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.2% to 8.4%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.0% in 2001 to 9.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Wealden residents that were unemployed increased from 1.7% to 2.5% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 49%, while the percentage of Wealden residents that were self-employed increased from 14% to 16%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Wealden residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.8% to 1.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.7%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Wealden remained close to 1.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Wealden by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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